Milford Defeats Hawley in Extra-Inning Game Three Epic

The Toros fought all the way to the final out Thursday evening against Milford in Game Three of the District 15 finals. Alas for local fans, the visitors scored three runs in the top of the 9th to seal the deal on the tournament title.

From a spectator’s viewpoint, every baseball season should end just like this one.

On Thursday evening on the shores of The Big Lake, Hawley and Milford battled deep into extra innings in Game Three of the District 15 American Legion championship series.

These two teams are as evenly-matched as can be imagined and would wind up splitting the season set. However, in the biggest ballgame of all...the one that would decide who goes on to regionals and who stays home...it was Milford who prevailed.

The visitors tallied three runs in the top of the 7th, then hung on for an exhausting 6-3 victory. With this win, Post 139 captures the D-15 title and earns a spot at the regional tournament, which will be played in Scranton this year.

“The kids are pretty upset and I am too,” Coach Chad Goetz told TWI Sports. “Overall, I think we played pretty well, but we made a made couple of big errors that really hurt. They were the difference...”

With this heartbreaking loss, the Toros close out the 2012 campaign with an impressive 15-4 record.

Strong Start

James Goetz, who pitched two innings Wednesday in relief, earned the starting nod Thursday.

Goetz was outstanding in this one, blanking the hard-hitting Milford lads for five frames before running out of gas and yielding to the Toros bullpen.

Meanwhile, David Krause was putting together an epic mound performance. Milford’s talented young righty would work all nine innings and throw an eye-popping 142 pitches. Krause allowed just eight hits while walking three and striking out eight.

Brandon Newsome and Danny Skibber, who would absorb the loss, also toed the rubber for Hawley.

Chris Duff and Cameron Wolfson paced the Post 311 offensive attack with two hits apiece. Duff also stole two bases and tallied a pair of runs.

Erik Pulkkinen, Kenny Ciszak and Goetz each had a hit and drove in a run.

David Ortiz delivered the defensive Play of the Day with a stellar, run-saving catch in short leftfield.

“I’m sorry to see the season end,”?said Coach Goetz. “But, we really made some strides. We’re learning how to be competitive and how to play with the big boys.”